Holding device



L. R. FIKE HOLDING DEVICE Aug. 27, 1940.

Filed Jan. 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l L.. R. FIKE Aug. 27, 1940.

HOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 5 Claims.

(Granted under the actl of March y3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended bythe act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described and claimed, if patented, may be manufactured and 5 used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment lto me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a device whichis usel ful as a clip for holding articles, such as sheets of paper, together. The device is also useful for the purpose of hanging articles of clothing such as trousers, coats, neckties, etc.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of such a device which iirmly grips the article to which it is applied between two co-acting members without danger of slippage.

'Another object of this invention is the` provision of such a device in which the co-acting gripping members may be separated with very little application of force and held in the open position without the application of any force by the user so that both hands are free to adjust the articles between the gripping members. 5 The following description considered together with the accompanying drawings will disclose this invention more fully, and further objects and advantages thereof may be apparent.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of one of the preferred embodiments of this invention partly in section.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figf ure 1, the device being illustrated in a closed relation.

Figure 3 is the same view as Figure 2 with the device in an open position. l

Figure 4 is an isometric View of the member designated by the numeral I4 and associated links 20.

Figure 5 is an isometric View of a modification of the embodiment illustrated in the above-mentioned figures.

Referring with more particularity to Figures 45 1, 2, 3, and 4, in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment illustrated comprises a resilient cylindrical member I0, of a suitable material such as spring steel, open at one side and bent outward radially to form two opposed plates II, the resilience of the cylinder IU acting to urge these two plates together like the conventional spring paper clips. Although the member IIJ is illustrated as having a circular cross-section, it may be of other forms such as triangular, rectangular, etc. The two members II are each provided with a longitudinal groove I2 in their opposed faces in which grooves a strip of rubber I3 is mounted. These rubber strips extend slightly outward from the plane of the surface so that an articleplaced between the members II are held without danger of slippage due to the increase of friction caused by the strips.

Within the cylindrical por-tion I0 of the device a U-shaped member, indicated generally at I4, consisting of two arms I5 and a connecting bar I5 is hinged to one side of the cylinder It, brackets Il being provided for the purpose. These brackets II may-be provided by forming and vbending inward peninsula-like portions of the walls of said cylinder, leaving apertures I B in the cylinder. On the opposite side of the cylinder I0 -two additional brackets I9 are provided inthe same manners as the'loracketsA I'I to which there is pivoted one end of L-shaped links 26, the other end lof said links being pivoted to the arms I5, substantially as shown.- An operating lever 2| is xed'at one end to the barl, the other -end projecting through va transverse slot 22 of the cylinder I0. When the members I I are in a closed relation as shown in Figure 12, the lever 2| projects vertically and is at the upper extreme end of the slot 22. In the open position; as illustrated in Figure 3, the leverl 2| is at the other extreme end of the slot 22. When the lever 2I is moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, the linkage systemr provided forces the members 'II to separate in the position shown in Figure 3 and theL forces acting on the linkage system by virtue of -the'resiliency of the cylinder I0, is not capable of closing the cylinder because the common pivot points between the links I5 and 20 are below the lines of force acting through the brackets I'I and I9. Consequently, the device stays in this open relation until the operator moves the lever v2I far enough toward the opposite side of the slot 22 to bring the said common pivot points above the lines of force acting throughV the brackets Il and I9, after which the device closes automatically. To facilitate operating the lever 2I when it is desiredto open the device, a thumb rest 23 is provided on one of the members II substantially as shown. The end of the lever 2l may be provided with a hook 24 so that the device may be hung on a horizontal rod, like an ordinary coat hanger.

In order to provide means for supporting coats and the like, extensions may be provided in the form of telescopable cylinders 25, These cylinders are supported by means of double-headed pins 26 through the top of the cylinder lll operating in a longitudinal slot 2l through the adjacent portion of each cylinder. The side of each cylinder 25 opposite the pins 26 is attened as indicated at 28 terminating slightly below the L-shaped links 20 when in the open position as shown in Figure 3, so that articles placed between the members Il are prevented from going too far into the cylinder Ill to interfere with the operation of the device. Longitudinal slots 29 are also provided through the Walls of the cylinders 25 for supporting articles, such as neckties, belts, etc.

In Figure 1, one of the two cylinders 25, namely, the one illustrated on the right, is shown telescoped and the other cylinder is shown extended. The device should be so proportioned that when the cylinders 25 are telescoped with the cylinder l they are completely within said cylinder l0, substantially as shown.

The modification illustrated in Figure differs from the modification illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 in that the gripping plates 30 instead of being integral with the cylinder l0 are each hinged thereto by means of a rod 3l, associated with a curled portion 32, one on each side of the cylinder. The plates 30 may be of any desired material such as metal, Wood, etc. Longitudinal rubber strips 33 are also provided for the plates 30, as in the embodiment first illustrated, The linkage system is substantially the same, and the thumb rest 34, on the slotted side of the cylinder, is also provided in the same manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of opposed holding plates, a resilient cylindrical member for urging said plates together, means associated with said cylindrical member for separating said plates and for holding them in an open position against the resilient action of said cylinder.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of opposed holding plates, a resilient cylindrical member for urging said plates together, a pair of spaced coactable straight links hinged within said cylinder to one side thereof, a pair of L-shaped links Within said cylinder having one arm of each pivoted on the side opposite said straight links and the other arm pivoted to said straight links, a rigid bar connecting said straight links, an arm secured at one end to said bar, the other end of said arm projecting through a slot in said cylinder opposite said plates, said links being so proportioned and arranged that when said arm is in one extreme position of said slot, lines of force exerted through their points of contact with said cylinder is above their common pivot points and when said arm is in the other extreme position such lines of force are below said common pivot points.

3. A device of the character described comprising a resilient cylindrical member having one side split so as to form two opposed longitudindal edges, a pair of holding plates disposed between said edges, each of said plates being hinged to the corresponding longitudinal edge of said cylindrical member, and means associated with said cylindrical member for separating said plates and for holding said plates in an open position against the resilient `action of said cylindrical member.

4. In a device, as defined by claim 3, a cylinder coaxially disposed at each end of the cylindrical member and telescopably engaged therewith, that portion of the said cylinders adjacent said holding plates being flat to abut the edge of material placed between said plates.`

5. In a device, as defined by claim 3, a cylinder coaxially disposed at each end of the cylindrical member and telescopably engaged therewith, that portion of the said cylinders adjacent said holding plates being flat to abut the edge of material placed between said plates, said cylinders having longitudinal slots through which wearing apparel may be threaded and supported.

LINUS R. FIKE.

CERTIFICATE OF 'CORRECTION Patent No. 2,212,859. August 27, 19Lto. LINUS R. Fm.

It isrhereb;r certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, lines 29 and 55, claims )4. and 5, respectively, for the claim' reference numeral 5. readl; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this" correction therein that the same may conform to the rec-A ord of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 15th'day 'of october, A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

